World War II Honoree

Vic Olson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pekin, Illinois

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A B-24 'LIBERATOR' HEAVY BOMBER AIRCREW MEMBER OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, WITH THE 494TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP 'KELLY'S COBRAS', 7TH AIR FORCE DURING THE WAR. HIS GROUP WAS BASED INITIALLY ON ANGAUR ISLAND IN THE PALAU ISLANDS IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS ARCHIPELAGO, AND LATER AT YONTAN ON OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS IN THE PALAU ISLANDS, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AND AGAINST THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS. HIS GROUP WAS THE FIRST B-24 GROUP TO ATTACK THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.